Almost every working adult faces a moment in the workplace when quitting seems like a viable option. Surely there must be some other position available somewhere with far fewer conflicts or demands or stresses. Before you turn in your two-week notice or run out the back door screaming, there are a number of things you should consider before quitting your job. Quitting an unsatisfying job may provide a temporary rush, but, much like the proverbial Geographical Cure, wherever you go, there you are.

Most employment experts agree that you should never consider quitting a job before securing another one to replace it. Arguably, this isn't always a priority in the middle of a heated argument with a supervisor or during the ninth ten-hour day in a row, but quitting a job voluntarily should rarely if ever be a spur-of-the-moment decision. Make every effort to generate several job leads or interviews before quitting a primary job.

One important consideration before quitting any job is personal finances. Do you have enough savings built up to survive a two month employment drought? Do you have automatic bill payments that hinge on a steady paycheck deposit? Would the entry-level salary of a new job be enough to meet your current budget? These are important considerations, especially if you have a spouse or other dependents.

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Under some conditions, it may be better to be fired or laid off from a job than to quit voluntarily. Unemployment claims are often based on the circumstances surrounding your last day on the job. Quitting a job may disqualify you from collecting certain benefits.

Another factor to consider is the current state of the local economy. In an economically depressed area with 10% unemployment rates, quitting any job can be a very risky move. When local economies are running hot and the employee pool is tight, finding another job may not be nearly as difficult.

You may also want to consider the local demand for your particular skills. If you are a journalist working for a small city's only newspaper, for example, you may want to secure a new position before quitting. Finding other jobs in a technical or creative field may prove very challenging.

Before quitting any job, you should ask yourself if you've truly exhausted all other remedies. Often, the trigger for a sudden walk-out or voluntary quit is relatively minor in the larger scheme of things. You may have become frustrated by a co-worker's procrastination on an important project, or your employer may have been less than tactful about a mistake. These incidents, as painfully annoying as they can be, are not always worth paying the ultimate price of quitting.

Once you have recovered from the initial stress, examine all of your options before making a hasty decision to quit. Could you take a few days of personal vacation time to gain some perspective? Would a raise in pay or a transfer to another department make the job less stressful? You may be eligible for company-sponsored counseling to deal with your current job frustrations or anger management issues. When an experienced employee begins to consider quitting a key position, many employers will do whatever it takes to address his or her concerns. Be certain that you're prepared to walk away from a job permanently before deciding to quit.

Discuss this Article

sneakers41Post 4

Sunny27- Training for another job via a technical school or community college can give you exposure to another industry. Once you complete your training and have obtained another job that it would be advisable to quit.

If however, you love the industry that you're in, but hate the company, consider what you don’t like and see if this could be avoided in the next position.

Some companies have corporate cultures that don’t always mesh with the employees. If you prefer to work in a flexible environment that allows you to work at home from time to time, you should find out what the working hours are and if this is a possibility with the future employer.

If

the environment is more formal, seek another company because you will not be happy with the level of structure.

Lastly, offering two weeks notice is the standard business practice with a written letter of resignation. The letter should be gracious and make you leave the company on a positive note.

Bhutan- That is so true. Sometimes people leave one job and find a half the same problem somewhere else. For example if you work in retail, and had a bad experience with one store, the chances are high that you have a bad experience in another store.

Retail environments usually offer long hours with not a lot of time off. If you don't like the scheduling in retail, it is better to prepare for another job opportunity in a different industry.

Always analyze your job prospects and if you are not happy with the industry as a whole consider changing jobs for different industry altogether. But this might also prolong your current situation longer.

Consider working a part time job in the new industry to see how you like it.

BhutanPost 2

Oasis11- I think that if you have to leave, make sure you plan your exit well in advance. Update your resume and send it to competing companies.

Although you may not be happy in your current job, give yourself enough time to secure the right job before you leave. Jumping ship quickly because you're desperate will only cause the problem to repeat itself.

When you are unhappy the grass always seems greener on the other side.

oasis11Post 1

Before quitting a job, you should really analyze why you want to leave. Many people leave one job to go to another and find that they have the same problems with a new employer.

Finding out why you want to leave will help you determine if the problem is the industry, the working conditions, the scheduling, or the type of work that is.

Sometimes the problem may even be the supervisor. It is best to try to work things out with your current employer before considering such a move.

Try your best to make things work with the current employer first. For example if scheduling is the problem then try the request a schedule that would be better for you.

If you feel that money is an issue, then ask for a raise and outline your accomplishments with the company. This way there is no guilt if you choose to move on.

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